Minn. postgame riot leads to 19 arrests

Hundreds of people flocked to Dinkytown and poured out of University of Minnesota-area bars after the game

By Raya Zimmerman, Brian Murphy and Nick Woltman
Pioneer Press

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — Nineteen people were arrested in the Dinkytown area Saturday night after the University of Minnesota men's hockey team lost in the NCAA Frozen Four championship game.

Minneapolis police said in a statement that at least 19 people were arrested Saturday night and early Sunday morning in and around the Dinkytown area near the Minnesota campus. There were two reported incidents of arson and an undetermined amount of property damage, police said. No officers were injured.

Hundreds of people flocked to Dinkytown and poured out of University of Minnesota-area bars after the game — a 7-4 loss to Union in Philadelphia — ended around 9:20 p.m. Roughly 30 minutes later, young people moved from sidewalks to the streets, chanting "USA!", hurling profanities at police officers and throwing rocks and bottles. Some lay down in the intersection of Fourth Street Southeast and 14th Avenue Southeast.

Police formed a line, brandished pepper spray, warned the crowd about unlawful assembly and ordered them to disperse or be arrested. A helicopter hovering overhead repeated the warning.

Roughly a half-hour later, police forces pushed much of the crowd into residential areas west and north of Dinkytown.

There were reports of officers shooting rubber pellets and beanbags to target the most unruly.

"With all the sirens and helicopters, it felt like a war zone," said recent Minnesota graduate Austin Duket, 22, who ventured out after watching the game at his Dinkytown home to see what the crowds would do. "There shouldn't be riots right now. We didn't even win."

His housemate, U senior James Anderson, 22, said Saturday night that the rioting might have been anticipated.

"After Thursday, (the riots) were an event. People were like, 'You guys want to go to the riot on Saturday?' "

Minneapolis police spokesman John Elder said Sunday that more information regarding specific details on the incident will be released early this week.

Police scanner reports stated officers were arresting people who used "assaultive behavior" and were damaging property.